The
2006 aid request
Relevant
text from the bills so far
In
reverse chronological order: The Senate
- The House - The Bush
Administration's Request
The
full Senate is likely to debate the 2006 foreign aid bill
(H.R.
3057) in mid to late July. Once it approves its version,
a House-Senate conference committee will reconcile the differences
between the two chambers' bills.
On
June 30, 2005, the Senate Appropriations Committee
met to "mark up" (agree upon a draft of) the Senate's
version of the 2006 foreign aid bill (H.R.
3057), which had been marked up in subcommittee two days
earlier.
Several
of the Colombia provisions in the Senate's version of the
bill differ significantly from those in the House's version.
Aid
amounts
The
Senate committee's bill fully funds the Andean Counterdrug
Initiative (ACI) request for $734.5 million in military
and economic aid for Colombia and six of its neighbors.
However,
the bill language seeks a better balance between military
and economic aid for Colombia. It puts a "ceiling"
on the amount of ACI aid that can go to Colombia's military:
"not more than $278,450,000 shall be made available
for assistance for the Colombian Armed Forces and National
Police." As indicated below,
the Bush Administration's request for 2006 had anticipated
providing $331,850,000 to the Colombian military
and police through the ACI (when funds for "Airbridge
Denial" are included), and it had provided $324.6 million
in such aid through this account in 2004. If the Senate
language passes, 2006 military and police aid to Colombia
through the ACI account could total $53.4 million less than
what the Bush Administration had requested.
It
also raises the "floor" for economic aid, specifying
that "not less than $149,757,000 shall be made
available for alternative development/institution building
in Colombia, which shall be apportioned directly to the
United States Agency for International Development."
A similar "floor" for USAID assistance to Colombia
appeared in the 2005 foreign aid bill, which calls for a
minimum of $125,700,000 through USAID for this year. (A
smaller, additional amount of non-military assistance for
"rule of law" programs does not go through USAID.
The Bush Administration's 2006 aid request indicated a plan
to spend $27,379,000 on rule of law programs in 2005, and
$27,393,000 in 2006. If the Senate language passes, non-military
aid to Colombia in 2006 could total $25 million more than
the Bush Administration's request, rising to $177.15 million.)
The
House version of the bill does not include any "ceiling"
and "floor" language (despite an effort to add
some, led by Rep. Sam Farr (D-California), that was thwarted
in committee).
Conditions
on aid for paramilitary (or guerrilla) demobilization and
reintegration
The
Senate bill contains strong and specific conditions on U.S.
support for "demobilization of foreign terrorist organizations
(FTOs)." No similar conditions appear in the House
version.
Funds
for such demobilizations may only pay for "limited
activities," and only then after the State Department
certifies that the following conditions have been met.
1.
The Colombian government has not adopted any law or policy
that inhibits extraditions of "members and former members"
of Colombian terrorist organizations. (Several AUC paramilitary
leaders currently face extradition requests for narcotrafficking.)
2.
Colombia's "legal framework" for demobilizations
"provides for effective investigation, prosecution
and punishment, in proportion to the crimes committed, of
gross violations of humanitarian law and drug trafficking."
3.
Colombia's "legal framework" for demobilizations
conditions sentence reductions "on a full and truthful
confession" of each demobilizing individual's "involvement
in criminal activity; full disclosure of his knowledge of
the FTO's structure, financing sources, and illegal assets;
and turnover of the totality of his illegal assets."
4.
Colombia's "legal framework" for demobilizations
requires that, in order to get reduced sentences, each demobilizing
commander ceases "illegal activity by the troops under
his command" and turns over all of his group's illegal
assets.
5.
Colombia's "legal framework" for demobilizations
provides for revocation of sentence reductions if demobilizing
individuals "are subsequently found to have withheld
illegal assets, lied to the authorities about their criminal
activities in the group, rejoined the same or another FTO,
or engaged in new illegal activities."
6.
"An inter-agency working group consisting of representatives
from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department
of Justice, and the Departments of State and Defense has
consulted with local and national Colombian law enforcement
and military authorities, representatives from the Office
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
in Colombia, and representatives of Colombian civil society
organizations, and has independently concluded in a detailed
report submitted to the Committees on Appropriations,"
that:
a.
The group that is demobilizing "is not violating
any ceasefire and has ceased illegal activities, including
narco-trafficking, extortion, and violations of international
humanitarian law."
b.
The group's "criminal and financial structure is
being destroyed" and the group, "or any part
thereof, is not regrouping to continue illegal activities."
c.
The Colombian government "is conducting effective
investigations and prosecutions" of the group's commanders
for crimes, including human rights and international humanitarian
law violations, "and, when appropriate, extraditing
them to the United States."
d.
The Colombian government "is aggressively implementing
an effective procedure to locate and confiscate illegal
assets, held directly or through third parties."
e.
The Colombian government is enforcing ceasefires by barring
ceasefire violators from receiving reduced sentences or
other demobilization benefits.
Before
issuing a certification that these conditions exist, the
State Department must "consult with internationally
recognized human rights organizations and the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in
Colombia."
Human
rights certification
As
in every year since 2003, twenty-five percent of the aid
will be held up until the Secretary of State certifies that
the Colombian military is complying with several human rights
standards. The Senate bill's conditions
are identical to those in the House bill, with two exceptions.
(1) The Senate language adds a sixth condition: the Secretary
of State must certify that "the Colombian Armed Forces
are respecting the legal, cultural, and territorial rights
of Colombia's indigenous communities." (2) In addition
to requiring consultation with relevant congressional committees
and internationally recognized human-rights groups, the
Senate bill would also require the State Department to consult
with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
in Colombia before certifying.
The
Senate bill would require a minimum of $8 million to be
devoted to judicial-reform programs in Colombia. At least
$10 million would go "to the United States Agency for
International Development for organizations and programs
to protect human rights." At least $2 million would
"be made available through nongovernmental organizations
for programs to protect biodiversity and indigenous reserves
in Colombia." The House bill made no earmarks.
Fumigation
certification
The
Senate bill renews language, which has been in each bill
since 2003, holding up all but 20 percent of funding for
herbicides until the State Department certifies that aerial
fumigation of drug crops is occurring within a series of
guidelines for health, environment, compensation for those
unjustly sprayed, and availability of alternative development.
The fumigation conditions do not appear in the House bill.
|
The
Foreign Relations / Foreign Assistance Authorization
Bills (H.R. 2601 and S. 600)
|
|
The
House International Relations Committee and the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee have both drafted bills
reauthorizing - that is, making changes to the permanent
law governing - several foreign aid programs.
Though
these "authorization" bills rarely become
law, they are worth keeping an eye on, and have some
provisions relevant to Colombia.
The
Senate's bill, reported out of committee on March
10, would extend through the "unified campaign"
language allowing counter-drug aid to Colombia to
be used for counter-terrorism.
The
Senate Foreign Relations Committee's non-binding narrative
report calls for a strong legal framework to be in
place before U.S. funds be used to support paramilitary
demobilizations in Colombia.
The
committee notes its interest in supporting, through
funding, a program to implement the demobilization
of AUC paramilitary combatants, and that such a
process be conducted pursuant to a comprehensive
legal framework, as determined by Colombians through
good faith negotiations with the Colombian Congress.
If the United States is to fund a significant share
of the demobilization program, however, it should
meet certain minimal standards. The committee believes
it imperative that any demobilization program bring
about the full dismantlement of the underlying structure,
illegal sources of financing, and economic power
of the AUC, which have been designated by the United
States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
In this regard, the committee believes it is crucial
that each paramilitary seeking sentence reductions
or other benefits from demobilization be required
to forfeit illegally acquired assets, confess past
crimes, and fully disclose any knowledge of the
operative structure, financing sources, and the
criminal activities of the FTO and its individual
members. Each demobilized AUC member's benefits
should be fully revocable if judicial authorities
find that he has failed to fulfill these requirements.
The
committee believes it is critical that the groups
of AUC leaders who receive sentence reductions or
other benefits fully demobilize and comply with
the cease-fire. The committee also believes that
all perpetrators of atrocities must serve a minimum
number of years in prison for their crimes. The
committee urges the Government of Colombia to put
in place effective mechanisms to monitor demobilized
individuals to prevent them from continuing to engage
in organized criminal activity. Finally, the committee
urges the Government of Colombia to devise a legal
framework that can be equally applicable to other
FTOs in Colombia, such as the FARC.
The
House bill was "marked up" (drafted) by
the full House International Relations Committee on
June 9, 2005. As of June 27, the text of this bill
has not been made public.
The
bill does contain an amendment introduced by Rep.
Dan Burton (R-Indiana) restricting aid for the paramilitary
process until the Secretary of State assures that
(1) aid is only going to those who have renounced
membership in the AUC; (2) the Colombian government
is "cooperating" in the extradition of paramilitaries
wanted for drug-trafficking, and (3) the "framework
law" governing the demobilizations is able to
dismantle the groups while "balancing both the
need for reconciliation as well as the need for justice."
The amendment passed despite opposition from the committee's
ranking Democrat, Rep. Tom Lantos (D-California),
who considered the language to be too vague to stop
U.S. aid from going to a flawed process.
Rep.
Barbara Lee (D-California) introduced an amendment
that sought to ensure that 40 percent of funds in
the Andean Counterdrug Initiative account went to
"The promotion of sustainable economic development
and the strengthening of civilian government in rural
areas of Colombia, and The protection of human rights,
the rule of law, and democratic institutions in Colombia."
The amendment failed on a party-line vote
of 20 Democrats for, to 22 Republicans against.
|
Fumigation
in national parks
The
Senate bill specifies that "funds appropriated by this
Act may be used for aerial fumigation in Colombia's national
parks or reserves only if the Secretary of State determines
that it is in accordance with Colombian laws and that there
are no effective alternatives to reduce drug cultivation
in these areas." No such language appears in the House
bill.
Bolivia
conditions
The
Senate bill renews language, which first appeared in the
2004 bill, estabilishing human rights conditions on military
aid to Bolivia. Before this aid can be delivered, the Secretary
of State must certify "that the Bolivian military is
respecting human rights, and civilian judicial authorities
are investigating and prosecuting, with the military's cooperation,
military personnel who have been implicated in gross violations
of human rights."
ACI
provisions that appear in both the House and Senate bills
The
House and Senate include identical language expanding
the mission of all past and present counter-drug aid, allowing
it to be used in a “unified campaign” against both drugs
and the activities of the FARC, ELN and AUC. Identical language
specifies
that "no United States Armed Forces personnel or United
States civilian contractor employed by the United States
will participate in any combat operation in connection with
assistance made available by this Act for Colombia."
Both versions call for a "report
on the proposed uses of all funds on a country-by-country
basis for each proposed program, project, or activity"
before aid can be delivered.
Report
language
The
Senate Appropriations Committee's non-binding narrative
report includes several interesting provisions with regard
to Colombia:
Fumigation:
"The
Committee is increasingly concerned ... that the aerial
eradication program is falling far short of predictions
and that coca cultivation is shifting to new locations.
Since the start of Plan Colombia, over 525,000 hectares
of coca crops have been sprayed, yet coca cultivation has
decreased by only 7 percent. Last year alone, 136,555 hectares
were sprayed, but the total area under cultivation, estimated
by the State Department at 114,000 hectares, remained essentially
unchanged from the previous year. There is no indication
that the quantity of cocaine entering the United States
has decreased."
The
Committee directs the Secretary of State, in consultation
with the EPA and appropriate Colombian authorities, to submit
a report not later than 180 days after enactment of the
Act, with the following information: the results of a GIS
analysis of the proximity of small, shallow water bodies
to coca and poppy fields and of tests to determine the toxicity
of the spray mixture to Colombian amphibians; and, an assessment
of potential impacts of the spray program on threatened
species, including in Colombia's national parks.
Afro-Colombians:
"The
Committee is aware that Afro-Colombians face many
difficult problems, including poverty and discrimination.
The Committee recommends assistance to address the economic
and social needs of Afro-Colombians, particularly IDPs in
the Choco region, through the Afro-Latino Development Alliance."
The
House of Representatives
On
June 28, 2005, the full House of Representatives debated
the Foreign Operations appropriations bill for 2006 (H.R.
3057). Reps. Jim McGovern (D-Massachusetts), Betty McCollum
(D-Minnesota) and Dennis Moore (D-Kansas) introduced an amendment
seeking to cut $100 million in military assistance from the
Andean Counterdrug Initiative. The amendment was defeated
by a vote of 189 in favor to
234 against.
-
-
- Rep.
McGovern spoke briefly, then Rep.
Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota) spoke in favor.
-
- Rep.
Ike Skelton (D-Missouri), the ranking Democrat on the
House Armed Services Committee, spoke in favor.
-
- Rep.
McGovern spoke briefly, then Rep.
Michael Honda (D-California) spoke in favor.
-
Rep.
Dan Burton (R-Indiana),
the chairman of the House International Relations Subcommittee
on the Western Hemisphere, spoke in opposition.
- Rep.
McGovern spoke briefly, then Rep.
Gregory Meeks (D-New York) spoke in favor.
-
- Rep.
McGovern spoke briefly, then Rep.
Ron Paul (R-Texas) spoke in favor.
-
- Rep.
Nita Lowey (D-New York), the ranking Democrat on the House
Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, spoke in favor.
-
- Rep.
Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois) spoke in favor.
- Rep.
David Obey (D-Wisconsin), the ranking Democrat on the
House Appropriations Committee, spoke in favor.
-
- Rep.
Sam Farr (D-California) spoke in favor.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Rep.
Mark Souder (R-Indiana),
the chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee
on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, spoke
in opposition.
-
- Rep.
Jim Kolbe (R-Arizona), the Chairman of the House Foreign
Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, spoke in opposition.
- Rep.
Jim Leach (R-Iowa) submitted a statement in favor.
- Rep.
Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) submitted a statement in
favor.
On
June 21, 2005, the full House Appropriations Committee
met to "mark up" (agree upon a draft of) the House's
version of the 2006 foreign aid bill (H.R.
3057).
The
committee made no changes to the Colombia language. However,
Rep. Sam Farr (D-California) introduced an amendment seeking
to earmark a minimum amount of Andean Counterdrug Initiative
(ACI) funds for USAID programs in Colombia. The language
of Rep. Farr's amendment was similar to economic-aid minimums
that have appeared in the past few years' bills, at the
Senate's initiative. The amount sought would have been $20
million higher than 2005 levels, which would have likely
required a similar-sized cut in military aid programs. After
some debate, Rep. Farr withdrew the amendment before it
came to a vote.
The
committee's non-binding narrative report includes several
interesting provisions with regard to the ACI:
-
Opposition
to an aid cut for Peru: "The Committee rejects
the Administration's requested 16 percent reduction for
eradication, interdiction and alternative development programs
in Peru and expects last year's level of funding to be provided
through reductions in the air bridge denial program and
the new air assets program for Colombia and Bolivia."
- Improved
ACI reporting:
"The Committee requests that the Secretary of State submit
to the Appropriations Committees a semi-annual report with
respect to the Andean Counterdrug Initiative. Each report
shall include an accounting of all aircraft, vehicles, boats
and lethal equipment (other than ammunition) transferred to
the militaries or police of any nation with funds made available
under this heading. Additionally, the Committee requires that
the personnel cap and Plan Colombia reports as required in
the fiscal year 2000 emergency supplemental also be submitted
to the Committees on Appropriations."
- Call
for a long-term strategy in the absence of a "Plan Colombia
2":
"The Committee notes that Plan Colombia was proposed
and implemented as a 6-year program, to be complete by the
end of 2005, yet the Committee has not been consulted by the
Administration on its follow-up program to Plan Colombia.
Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator
of USAID, to report to the Committee no later than 60 days
after enactment of this Act on the future, multi-year strategy
of the United States assistance program to Colombia. The Committee
expects this strategy to include all aspects of current and
future United States assistance and detailed explanations
for how the Colombian government will assume responsibility
for maintaining more of Plan Colombia's assets."
- Transfer
of responsibilities for aircraft and fuel costs:
"The Committee is concerned about the many levels of
bureaucratic approval needed before the State Department's
air assets can be used for program support or rescue operations,
which is hindering efficient operations and possibly endangering
human welfare. Additionally, the Committee has held the longstanding
view that the Colombian Government immediately should begin
the process of assuming the operational and maintenance functions
of Plan Colombia's assets. Therefore, the Committee directs
the Secretary of State to report back to the Committee no
later than 60 days after the enactment of this Act, what actions
are being taken by the Departments of State and Defense to
transfer responsibilities for programs funded in this Act
currently being executed by United States contractors to Colombian
nationals."
The Committee notes the increased cost of oil and fuel as
a leading factor in higher operating costs of the Colombian
counternarcotics program. The Committee also notes that Colombia
is a net exporter of oil with revenues from oil approaching
$4,500,000,000 annually. Given that United States foreign
assistance is being used to safeguard the Colombian oil supplies
and pipelines, including $17,300,000 in fiscal year 2006 to
operate air assets protecting the Arauca pipeline, the Committee
expects the Government of Colombia to offset some of these
increased costs given the increased revenues the Government
of Colombia has collected as the price of oil has risen. The
Committee directs the Secretary of State to report back to
the Committee no later than 90 days after enactment of this
Act on levels of revenue the Government of Colombia is devoting
to offsetting the increased fuel prices borne by the United
States as a result of Plan Colombia.
- Paramilitary
demobilizations:
"The Committee notes that there are no funds in the fiscal
year 2006 budget request for demobilization of paramilitaries.
The Committee has retained language requiring consultation
and notification before the obligation of funds for this purpose."
- Alternative
development and eradication: "The
Committee strongly supports USAID's continuing alternative
development strategy that focuses on the historic underdevelopment
of Colombia's outlying regions. The programs concentrate on
local infrastructure needs (roads, electricity, water) and
delivery of services at the community level. This focus on
an entire community increases the social pressure for eradication
and also helps organize the community to identify and prioritize
local needs. It is the Committee's view that alternative development
integrated with the presence of the state and the presence
of law enforcement and security are fundamentally the key
to long term peace and security in Colombia.
The
Committee directs USAID to report back to the Committee no
later than 60 days after enactment of this Act what detailed
steps the Government of Colombia is taking to develop a comprehensive
rural development strategy.
The
Committee has not recommended funding for a new, fourth eradication
team for Colombia because the President did not request this
funding in fiscal year 2006 and due to the Committee's restrictive
budgetary allocation relative to the President's request.
The Committee notes that this recommendation is made without
prejudice and is solely a result of pressures to fund other
Presidential priorities."
On
June 14, 2005, the House Foreign Operations Appropriations
Subcommittee met to "mark up" (agree upon a draft
of) the House's version of the 2006 foreign aid bill (H.R.
3057).
The
House version of the bill provides the Bush Administration's
full request of $734.5 million for
the “Andean Counterdrug Initiative (ACI).” Administered
by the State Department’s international narcotics bureau,
the ACI provides counter-drug military and economic aid
for Colombia and six of its neighbors (Bolivia, Brazil,
Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela; Guatemala and Nicaragua
received some ACI aid in 2005 but are not expected to do
so in 2006).
The
House language makes no earmarks specifying that a minimum
amount go to economic aid programs administered by USAID.
During the past few years, such earmarking language has
appeared in the Senate's version of the bill and been adopted,
with modifications, by the Conference Committee that resolves
differences between both houses' versions of the bill.
Expanded
authority
The
bill continues language that first appeared in the 2002
emergency anti-terror supplemental appropriation bill. For
the duration of fiscal year 2005, the bill expands the mission
of all past and present counter-drug aid, allowing it to
be used in a “unified campaign” against both drugs and the
activities of the FARC, ELN and AUC – in other words, allowing
aid from counter-drug funding accounts to be used for counter-insurgent
(or “counter-terror”) operations.
As
in every year since 2003, this expanded mission is contingent
on the Colombian military’s execution of “vigorous operations”
to retake territory from paramilitary and guerrilla groups,
and to respect human rights. As in past years, U.S.-donated
helicopters must be returned if the State Department finds
that Colombian forces used them to aid or abet paramilitary
groups.
Funding
paramilitary demobilizations
The
bill language requires that any funding for demobilization
and reintegration of armed-group members "be subject
to prior consultation with, and the regular notification
procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations."
Avoidance
of combat
The
bill language specifies that "no United States Armed
Forces personnel or United States civilian contractor employed
by the United States will participate in any combat operation
in connection with assistance made available by this Act
for Colombia."
Human
rights conditions
As
in every year since 2003, twenty-five percent of the aid
will be held up until the Secretary of State certifies that
the Colombian military is complying with several human rights
standards. The language, which is unchanged, is as follows:
(A)
The Commander General of the Colombian Armed Forces is
suspending from the Armed Forces those members, of whatever
rank who, according to the Minister of Defense or the
Procuraduria General de la Nacion, have been credibly
alleged to have committed gross violations of human rights,
including extra-judicial killings, or to have aided or
abetted paramilitary organizations.
(B)
The Colombian Government is vigorously investigating and
prosecuting those members of the Colombian Armed Forces,
of whatever rank, who have been credibly alleged to have
committed gross violations of human rights, including
extra-judicial killings, or to have aided or abetted paramilitary
organizations, and is promptly punishing those members
of the Colombian Armed Forces found to have committed
such violations of human rights or to have aided or abetted
paramilitary organizations.
(C)
The Colombian Armed Forces have made substantial progress
in cooperating with civilian prosecutors and judicial
authorities in such cases (including providing requested
information, such as the identity of persons suspended
from the Armed Forces and the nature and cause of the
suspension, and access to witnesses, relevant military
documents, and other requested information).
(D)
The Colombian Armed Forces have made substantial progress
in severing links (including denying access to military
intelligence, vehicles, and other equipment or supplies,
and ceasing other forms of active or tacit cooperation)
at the command, battalion, and brigade levels, with paramilitary
organizations, especially in regions where these organizations
have a significant presence.
(E)
The Colombian Government is dismantling paramilitary leadership
and financial networks by arresting commanders and financial
backers, especially in regions where these networks have
a significant presence.
This
section requires the State Department to consult with internationally
recognized human-rights organizations on Colombia every
90 days.
Fumigation
conditions
The
House bill does not include language, which has been in
each bill since 2003, holding up funding for herbicides
until the State Department certifies that aerial fumigation
of drug crops is occurring within a series of guidelines
for health, environment, compensation for those unjustly
sprayed, and availability of alternative development.
Peru
and Bolivia
The
House bill does not prohibit U.S. funding, which has appeared
every year since 2003, for a renewed Peruvian air interdiction
program until 30 days after the State Department and CIA
certify that “enhanced safeguards and procedures” are in
place.
The
House bill does not include human rights conditions on ACI
aid to Bolivia, which first appeared in 2004.
No
“Andean Counterdrug Initiative” funds can be spent until
the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International
Development give Congress a report on the proposed uses
of all funds “on a country-by-country basis for each proposed
program, project, or activity.” This report was due within
45 days of the bill’s final passage.
The
Bush Administration's request
On
February 15, 2005, the Bush administration submitted
to Congress its foreign aid budget request for 2006. It called
for an amount of aid to Colombia about the same as 2004 and
2005 levels: $579.6 million. Of that amount, $427.5
million would go to Colombia's military and police, with the
remaining $152.2 million going to economic and social assistance
programs.
Foreign
operations accounts for most - but not all - of the aid that
Colombia gets. The Defense budget appropriation provides
additional counter-drug aid military and police aid, but the
Defense Department is not required to estimate how much aid
each country is to receive. In 2004, however, Colombia's military
and police received an estimated $122 million in additional
military and police aid through the U.S. defense budget, and
the Congressional Research Service estimates a figure as high
as $200 million for 2005. If Defense Department aid is an
average of those two figures - $161 million - in 2006, Colombia
will get $590.5 million in military-police aid next year (80%),
compared to $152.2 million in economic-social aid.
|
|
Military
/ Police Aid
|
Economic
/ Social Aid
|
Total
|
International
Narcotics Control (INC
- Andean Regional Initiative)
|
$331,850,000
|
$152,150,000
|
$484,000,000
|
Foreign
Military Financing (FMF)
|
$90,000,000
|
-
|
$90,000,000
|
International
Military Education and Training (IMET)
|
$1,700,000
|
-
|
$1,700,000
|
Anti-Terrorism
Assistance (ATA)
|
$3,900,000
|
-
|
$3,900,000
|
|
Foreign
Operations Budget Request Total
|
$427,450,000
|
$152,150,000
|
$597,600,000
|
Excess
Defense Articles (EDA),
estimated by averaging 2003-2004 levels
|
$1,700,000
|
-
|
$1,700,000
|
Defense-Budget
Counternarcotics Aid (Known as "Section
1004" and "Section
1033"), estimated by averaging 2004-2005
levels
|
$161,000,000
|
-
|
$161,000,000
|
|
Estimated
Overall 2004 Total
|
$590,150,000
|
$152,150,000
|
$760,320,000
|
Foreign
Military Financing
The
Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
program -- used in recent years mostly to provide grant military
aid to the Middle East and Eastern Europe -- would provide
Colombia with $90 million in 2006. This money continues the
effort to help Colombia's army protect the Caño Limón-Coveñas
pipeline, which runs from Arauca department to Sucre department
in northeastern Colombia. Much oil in this pipeline belongs
to Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum.
FMF
has moved well beyond the pipeline program, however. It now
encompasses the "Plan Patriota" military offensive
and several other efforts, as the State Department's 2006
Congressional
Budget Justification for Foreign Operations describes.
FY
2006 Foreign Military Financing (FMF) funds will be used
to continue our support to Colombia's national security
strategy to extend central government authority and governance
to areas heretofore prey to terrorists and narcotics traffickers.
…
Colombian
security forces will still require significant U.S. assistance
for counternarcotics and counterterrorism, especially in
key areas of mobility, intelligence, sustainment and training
due to the increased operational pace brought about by President
Uribe's successes. FY 2006 FMF will support Colombia's integrated
national strategy with significant military assistance and
counternarcotics programs that increase the Colombian military's
ability to establish a secure environment, essential to
President Uribe's comprehensive national security strategy.
The
United States will provide operational support (training,
supplies, repair parts, maintenance and infrastructure)
and specialized equipment, including weapons, night vision
goggles and communications, to the Army. Our 2006 request
continues to support for the battlefield evacuation program
and the army's specialized and mobile units, but also provides
assistance (at lower levels) to the army's regular brigades
and other units. The specialized units will be at the heart
of Plan Patriota and the regular units will be called upon
to consolidate the gains made be the more mobile units.
The 2006 request also places greater emphasis on improving
the logistics and training base of the Colombian armed forces.
Improving the training, maintenance, and logistics infrastructure
will be critical to ensuring the long-term success our assistance.
The 5th and 18th Colombian Army Brigades, trained in 2003
to provide protection to the Cano Limon-Covenas pipeline,
a key element of Colombia's economic infrastructure, will
receive additional munitions, equipment and training to
sustain this high profile and important mission. Support
will also include establishing a national training center
and developing an automated logistical system.
FMF
will also support the Colombian Navy and Air Force and include
the provision of interdiction boats, additional combat aircraft,
training and infrastructure improvements, maintenance and
operational support for Colombia's C-130 transportation
fleet and helicopter support, improving the ability of the
entire Colombian military to quickly provide forces for
operations throughout the country. Our FY 2006 request will
also continue support to improve the capacity of the Colombian
armed forces to treat and evacuate wounded from the battlefield.
FMF funds will be used for naval interdiction programs by
providing secure communications equipment, spare parts,
and assistance to establish an operations center. Riverine
forces will benefit from spare parts and other logistical
support.
The
Andean Counter-Drug Initiative request
The
aid request would provide Colombia and its neighbors with
an additional $734.5 million in International Narcotics Control
(INC) assistance,
both military/police and economic.
|
Country
|
Military
/ Police
|
Economic
/ Social
|
Total
|
|
Colombia
|
$331,850,000
|
$152,150,000
|
$484,000,000
|
|
Peru
|
$54,000,000
|
$43,000,000
|
$97,000,000
|
|
Bolivia
|
$43,000,000
|
$37,000,000
|
$80,000,000
|
|
Ecuador
|
$8,460,000
|
$11,540,000
|
$20,000,000
|
|
Brazil
|
$6,000,000
|
-
|
$6,000,000
|
|
Venezuela
|
$3,000,000
|
-
|
$3,000,000
|
|
Panama
|
$4,500,000
|
-
|
$4,500,000
|
|
"Critical
Flight Safety Program"
(for State Department-owned aircraft)
|
|
|
$40,000,000
|
|
Total
|
$450,800,000
|
$243,690,000
|
$734,500,000
|
According
to the Foreign Operations aid request, ACI funding for Colombia
will focus mainly on supporting aerial spraying, maintaining
a large number of planes and helicopters, and carrying out alternative
development and other "economic and social" aid programs.
The aid request explains:
In
FY 2006, the program will continue moving towards a "maintenance
spraying" phase that will strive to keep illicit crop
production from reemerging - a step that is likely to involve
as many, if not more flight hours as drug plantations become
smaller and more dispersed. CNP and COLAR units trained
and equipped in previous years will receive follow on training
to cement professionalization, decrease corruption, foment
respect for human rights, and improve operational effectiveness.
In FY 2006, we will also see an increase in missions, area
of operations, and number of vetted units receiving U.S.
support due to the increased operational pace. Funds will
also support infrastructure improvements, CNP training,
and establishment of secure and interoperable communications
and intelligence systems needed to keep pace with recent
success and increased operational pace against the narcoterrorists.
In
addition to air assets committed to spray operations, funds
will support 82 crucial COLAR helicopters (maintenance and
repair, training and operations, and fuel) throughout Colombian
territory. Additional military equipment, including maintenance
and operations of facilities and general operational support,
will be provided to the Counterdrug Brigade with the eventual
goal of having the GOC perform and fund the majority of
maintenance, once the operational pace has leveled off.
Continued
funding for alternative development and institutional building
will be directed towards long-term projects. These projects
are aimed at creating sustainable changes in the culture and
economy, and so by design remain essentially stable over many
years to allow the new patterns of thought and behavior to
become entrenched.
|
